It has been locked away for a while due to arthritis, moved away from hilly Cornwall, now riding again. Forgotten how lively it is. My wife won a newspaper competition allowed me to have a present, and as my brother had a Nomad, I went to SJS and ordered the Raven. The paintwork [with Celtic rings] is fragile and chips easily. I think it is the same paint job as the bike tests done at the time. I believe the early bikes had 531 stays, the front forks are 531.
The bike is original apart from the rear wheel, which had a worn rim. I have had no problem with the rear hub, its real every day advantage is being able to change gear stationary. It has the lowest possible gear ratio allowed [those Cornish hills]. I think if I decided to do serious riding again the chain and cogs should be replaced, but as I use it for toodling around unladen it does not need it. Keeping it until my last journey.
